Carrie May's service in Uganda as a Peace Corps Volunteer cut short by illness

In June, however, she became racked with chills, sweats and other malaria symptoms, causing Peace Corps officials to send her on the four-hour trip to Kampala for advanced treatment. Doctors didn't find malaria antibodies, but a second bout days later caused them to treat her for the disease, and the persistent motion sickness that followed ultimately led her to decide to pack up for home last month. "It was such a hard choice to make because of all the great people and relationships I left behind, but I wasn't doing anyone any good as a worker because I was so sick for so long," said the Kearsley High School grad, 29. "Even though my body told me that wasn't the place for me at that time, I feel honored to have been a part of those people's lives and helped them in some way. Being there definitely changed me and the way I approach life."

THETFORD TWP. - Packing up her life to join the Peace Corps and head to Uganda was an easy decision for Carrie May.

It was choosing to come home early that was the hard part.

But after weeks of malaria-like illness, severe motion sickness and two trips to the capital city of Kampala for medical treatment, it was one May finally had to make.

"It was such a hard choice to make because of all the great people and relationships I left behind, but I wasn't doing anyone any good as a worker because I was so sick for so long," said the Kearsley High School grad, 29.

"Even though my body told me that wasn't the place for me at that time, I feel honored to have been a part of those people's lives and helped them in some way. Being there definitely changed me and the way I approach life."

May's 10-month Peace Corps stint began as she was ending another adventure - two extended stays in Alaska, where she worked for the state doing job training for at-risk youth.

After returning home and deciding not to complete her horticulture degree at Michigan State University, May signed up for the Peace Corps and was given an assignment working for an AIDS and HIV education program.

In between her job teaching condom use and other preventive measures, May learned enough Swahili to let her interact with villagers and share glimpses of U.S. culture.

"My family photo album was the best thing I could've taken because there everyone can relate to a family, and they know how important these people are to me," she said.

"When you're there, away from all the TVs and newspapers and everything you're bombarded with every day in America, that's when you can get to know people because all you have is them and their soul."

In June, however, she became racked with chills, sweats and other malaria symptoms, causing Peace Corps officials to send her on the four-hour trip to Kampala for advanced treatment.

Doctors didn't find malaria antibodies, but a second bout days later caused them to treat her for the disease, and the persistent motion sickness that followed ultimately led her to decide to pack up for home last month.

Now recovered, May is working on starting her own business, with the hope that she can take extended leaves to volunteer abroad as much as possible.

"The work I've done has made me sure I could never work a 9-to-5 job again, and I made it my goal once I got back to be my own boss," she said. "Through all the ups and downs, there were those moments where I would just click with someone new and I'd think, 'This is why I'm here.'"

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Story Source: Flint Journal

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Uganda; Safety

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